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Knicks: 4 potential starting lineups for the 2020-21 season

By Brad Dressler

Jan 6, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau calls a play during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau calls a play during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 27, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. (5) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Possible Knicks starting lineup: Dennis Smith Jr., RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

Listen, I know what you’re about to say: Daily Knicks writer, have you absolutely lost your mind?

The simplest answer is yes, BUT hear me out. Apparently, rumor has it that the starting point guard competition is solely between Elfrid Payton and Dennis Smith Jr., and that Frank Ntilikina is on the outside looking in.

Let’s all just assume that Dennis Smith Jr. was able to work out the kinks in his jump shot over the obnoxiously long offseason and was able to return to a similar form as his days with Dallas before Luka was even a twinkle in the NBA’s eye— wouldn’t that DSJ be exciting to watch?

Please do not forget that he only just turned 23-years-young the day before this past Thanksgiving – and not only did this kid put up 15 points and 5 assists as a rookie on respectable efficiency, but may I remind you that he can literally dunk through the roof?!

I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I got the incredibly unfortunate news of the Knicks trading Kristaps Porzingis. I was sitting at my desk at work, looking out my window at Madison Square Garden, beginning to cry profusely. Once I got over my emotional breakdown, I started to think about the positives of that trade. We were getting a young star point guard on his way to compete in that season’s dunk contest, along with two first-round picks – crisis averted (kinda sorta). If what I’m hearing is true, DSJ looked great in CP3’s Basketball Academy and has been able to fine-tune his jumper a bit. All in all, let’s just see what happens.

Now, I’m as big of a fan of Obi at the 3-spot as I am a fan of getting my teeth pulled out. Although he struggled mightily at Dayton to guard college-calibre power forwards, maybe a few months under Tom Thibodeau can uplift this unit’s defense as a whole. Coach Thibs’ time in Minnesotat can be chalked up as a big fat L, considering the amount of talent he had on that team, but one thing he definitely did accomplish was turning one of the league’s worst defenses into a middling, but respectable one.

I can’t help but want to throw my hands in the air and yell about how much of a Knicks-like move this would be – starting Dennis Smith Jr. over better options – but what do I know?

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